Paula Deen, Brother Close Uncle Bubba’s After Racism Lawsuit

A rep for Paula Deen’s family confirmed that Uncle Bubba’s Oyster House, the Savannah, Georgia restaurant at the center of a lawsuit that left the celebrity chef’s reputation destroyed, saw its final day of business on Thursday.

Spokesman Jaret Keller says owner and operator Bubba Hiers, who is Deen’s brother, decided to close the restaurant to explore development options for the waterfront property. Keller says a range of uses are being considered.

The establishment opened in 2004. Deen co-owned it with Hiers, who oversaw daily operations.

Former manager Lisa Jackson sued them both in 2012, saying she worked in an environment rife with racial slurs and sexual innuendo.